Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, identified as Farida Nansubuga, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.15 kilogrammes out of Nigeria.
The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while preparing to board a flight to Uganda.
According to the NDLEA, the arrest followed a joint passenger screening exercise involving its operatives and aviation security personnel.
A preliminary body search raised suspicion that the woman had concealed illicit substances around her pelvic region.
She was subsequently taken to a designated private search room for further examination, during which officers discovered 87 wraps of cocaine weighing approximately 1.150 kilogrammes.
The drugs were reportedly strapped around her pelvic region and concealed beneath two layers of underwear in an attempt to evade airport security checks.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 8, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that Nansubuga arrived in Nigeria on October 29, 2026, alongside members of her church delegation for a prayer programme at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), located in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that while other members of her delegation returned to Uganda after the religious programme, she remained in Nigeria to collect a cocaine consignment on behalf of a friend identified simply as Joy, who resides in Uganda.
According to her account, Joy connected her with a contact in Nigeria, who allegedly arranged transportation to a hotel on the morning of her scheduled departure.
She claimed that a man handed over the cocaine to her at the hotel and instructed her to conceal the consignment beneath her clothing to avoid detection during airport screening.
The suspect reportedly disclosed that although no specific payment had been agreed upon, she expected to receive at least $1,000 upon successfully delivering the drugs to Uganda.
The NDLEA described the arrest as another indication of the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by international drug trafficking networks to move illicit substances across borders.
The agency reiterated its commitment to intensifying intelligence-driven operations and strengthening surveillance at Nigeria’s airports and other entry and exit points to disrupt drug trafficking activities.
The arrest also highlights the growing concern over the exploitation of international travellers, including individuals travelling for religious activities, by drug trafficking networks seeking to use them as couriers.
Investigations are expected to continue to identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the attempted trafficking operation.
